Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, except for the occasional random name here and there that you don't recognize. But really, why bother stealing them?

Chapter 3: Of Fainting and Flirting

"Please Lily? Pleeeeease?"

Sod it. It was a sodding Monday and the second sodding month of the sodding year and I had my first sodding detention with sodding Potter. No way in hell am I ever getting out of this bed. No way, siree.

"Lily get uuuuup!" Alice screamed in my ear as she attempted to dislocate my shoulder. She's been tugging at my arm for a good ten minutes now and I think she's showing signs of weakness. Of course who wouldn't be showing signs of weakness at this bloody hour of the morning?

"Alice," I said holding my pillow firmly over my head. "IT IS BLOODY FIVE IN THE BLOODY MORNING! THIS WHOLE COUNTRY HAD BETTER BE ON FIRE!"

"I don't know about any fire but if you'd just get up you'll see James flaming up the Quidditch pitch!"

I hesitated slightly before telling her to sod off, but it was too late. She just kept blabbing on and on about him. I flung back my covers and started to get dressed. It's not as if there's any point to staying in bed after Alice has decided to go off on one of her bloody rants.

"Oh, so we wake up after that comment, huh? I don't understand you at all Lils. One minute you're swearing you'll hex him and next, you blush at the very mention of his name. Be honest Lily, do you fancy him or not?"

"Ov coursh not!" I said from the washroom, my mouth full of toothpaste.

She went on as if she hadn't heard me.

"Because if I were you Lily, I'd tell him soon. He's not going to chase after you for ever, you know. In case you haven't noticed, he hasn't brought up the bet at all yet. It's already been a full month into the semester. Usually he asks you on the train over."

"And what's your point, Alice?" I snapped, pulling my hair into the loose single braid I've worn for the past six years.

"My point is, if you don't tell him you fancy him soon, he'll move on. Look Lils, I know you're pretty clueless about gossip around here, but there has been word that James has had his eye on a certain Ravenclaw…"

"Good for him!" I spat haughtily and dragged Alice out of the dormitory.

About ten minutes later, I was sitting on the bleachers, quietly nibbling on a piece of toast. The sky was just turning a bashful shade of pink as morning slowly spread over the Quidditch pitch. It was tranquil where I was sitting, cut off from the ruckus of the practice. I almost fell asleep again.

Alice had already abandoned me. She ran over to Frank, who was just landing his broomstick. I watched them do that cheesy American movie thing where they would run at each other from either sides of a beach or something, all done in slow motion and to an excellent soundtrack. Of course, the moment was kind of ruined, because there was obviously no beach and the only "music" here was that of Curtis Langhammer's shriek as he received a Bludger in the face. I watched as they hugged and Alice giggled joyously. The lucky cow. She had everything. She was pretty, she had good grades in all her subjects, and most importantly, everyone loved her. I mean, she was just so cute and bubbly, it was next to impossible to hate her. Frank especially loved her. You could tell by the affectionate way he held her waist and the gentle kisses he left on her cheek. He teased her as he kissed her nose, her ear, her forehead, her eyelid, but kept avoiding her lips. Her cheeks blushed the tint of ripe pomegranates. They were such a perfect couple, as if nothing could ever wake them from their fantasy.

And me? I got dragged out at the break of dawn to watch the Gryffindor's first Quidditch practice of the year. I admire the lot of them for waking up so early. I would just have fallen off my broomstick. Anyway, I was feeling a little lonely sitting by myself. Plus, it was considerably colder than I had anticipated. And me, being brilliant as ever, had left my cloak back in the dorm.

Right. So. I decided to pull myself together before anyone noticed that I was wallowing in self-pity over here. I focused on the practice. Frank had gotten back on his broom. He was using fancy maneuvers to dodge the Bludgers that the two beaters were sending at him. Alice was laughing delightedly some eighty feet below him. Curtis, the seeker went off to see Madam Pomfrey about his bleeding nose, due to that Bludger.

I scanned the pitch for James. Where was he? Not that, you know. I was looking for him or anything.

"Hey gorgeous," James said softly from behind me, making me jump and blush a deep scarlet.

I stood up clumsily, and spun around. James Potter was standing there, running his hand through his hair and smiling. I couldn't really see his face, because he had his back to the sun, but I could smell the fresh morning grass off of his billowing Quidditch robes, glimmering in the sunlight. With the shadows playing on his face, I could make out the outlines of his firm and distinct features. I noticed he was quite a bit taller than I was. I wonder why I hadn't noticed it before. Maybe because we've never stood so close to each other.

I stared at him, my stomach tossing the crumbs of toast around. Something heavy in my chest seemed to have blocked my throat, rendering me momentarily speechless. I wanted to touch him. To feel his warmth on my skin.

"Lily, are you alright?"

Instead, I opted for running away. I stumbled around awkwardly and ran down the bleachers. I nearly tripped a dozen times on my way. This might have been easier if I wasn't so preoccupied with constantly looking behind me. I was torn between the relief that he wasn't coming after me, and the disappointment that he didn't even try.

I walked back to the dormitory, feeling dazed. The halls flashed by in a colorful blur. All I could hear was a strange, echoic voice repeating "Lily…are you alright? Lily…" over and over again.

This is so embarrassing. I hate myself. How could I ever have let this happen? I am never leaving the hospital wing. Ever. Except I still have a Charms essay due this afternoon and a lovely detention to assist. Sod it. But after that, I am crawling back here and staying until I die. Possibly.

I apparently fainted in a side hallway leading to the Main Hall this morning at about quarter to six. Now, all anyone is talking about is how James Potter was carrying Lily Evans in his arms through the school at the break of dawn.

From a corridor containing only to a Prefects bathroom and a supplies closet.

This is absolutely mortifying. Do you have any idea how suspicious that might have looked? I wouldn't be surprised if the story gets blown completely out of proportion by noon. I mean, considering all the coincidental events, who could even have guessed that I fainted from lack of sleep and James Potter just happened to find me passed out in some unknown corridor.

Which is what actually happened. Madam Pomfrey said I fainted from sleep deprivation. Which I guess was true, what with me having stayed up until three in the morning for the past two weeks writing extra credit essays for transfiguration, not that it did me any good. Oh, and that whole waking-up-at-five-to-go-watch-Potter-on-a-broomstick thing this morning. God, I have to remember to strangle Alice for that one. So after I left this morning, I pretty much just walked into the castle, took the first turn I came to and passed out cold. Very elegant, wouldn't you say? Also, it seems James did come after me, because he was the one to bring me here, to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey said he stayed here the entire time until classes started. I was, of course, unconscious all the while. I hope I didn't sleep-talk. Or worse, drool! How embarrassing would that be?

Note to self: Must remember to be extra cold to Potter. Sodding rumors…

And find out if I sleep-talk.

Alice literally had to drag me down to McGonagall's office for detention. I was that desperate to get out of it. She kept saying something about how lucky I was to have detention with Potter. Something about him being hot. Yaddy yaddy yadda. I really didn't feel like seeing more of Potter than I had to. All day (well, except first period, because I was in the sodding hospital wing) I've had to endure those bloody stares shifting from me, to Potter, back to me, before the whispering started. I really think I might be deaf from the continuous buzz of rumors around this sodding school. Does no one understand privacy anymore?

"Lily, no one cares that you were snogging James Potter in the supplies closet! Just admit you fancy him and move on with life. It's not a big deal!" Alice said, tugging me forward. We received a couple raised eyebrows.

"I do NOT fancy him!" I shouted stubbornly, trying to resist Alice's tugs.

"Lily! Fine, you don't fancy James! Just get to your bloody detention, will you? McGonagall'll get her knickers in twist if you show up late."

"But Alice, I -"

"There! Just go in there and don't do anything stupid!" Alice shoved me through the door to McGonagall's office before I could protest.

James was already at his desk, scribbling furiously with his quill. He stopped when I got there though, looking at me like he didn't quite know what to do. I suppose he thought I blamed him for the whole disaster this morning. I ignored his attempt to talk to me.

I sat myself at the farthest seat from him and took out my own parchment and quill. Then I realized I didn't know what to do. Drat. I was going to have to talk to him. I toyed with idea of scribbling gibberish on my parchment for the entire detention just to keep from talking to Potter. Finally, I gave up.

"Where's McGonagall?" I said as sharply as I could.

"There was an emergency on the fourth floor. Someone got transfigured into a chipmunk. The entire staff is chasing it upstairs." He grinned, but faltered at my glare. I waited for him to continue with the instructions she left. He went back to his parchment. Git.

"So what are we supposed to be doing?" I asked, through clenched teeth.

"Copy 'I will not pass notes in class' at least three hundred times or until 10 o'clock. She said not to expect her back."

I ignored his smile at me and started writing.

I will not pass notes in class
I will not pass notes in class
I will not pass notes in class
I will not pass notes in class
I well not pass notes in class
I well not pass n -

James somehow got himself on the table behind me and was peering over my shoulder.

"Will you sod off please?" I hissed.

"You're spelling 'will' wrong."

"What?"

"You spelt it with an 'e'."

I looked down at my paper. Bugger. I crumpled it and attempted to throw it at him. It bounced off the window sill and out of the window. Oops.

"Potter, that was because you were breaking my concentration! Get back to your seat and get writing!"

"What's the point? It's not as if she'll find out."

"She could very well come back in here any minute now!"

He ignored me and smiled to himself as he walked in front of me. I hate him, I really do. And why does he have to smile like that, like he's keeping something from me; like he's laughing at me.

"Stop fooling around, James!"

"James? What happened to Potter?" Bugger. Clearly he was having a wonderful time seeing me squirm. As if I haven't done enough of that today.

"Fine! Potter, then!"

"But if you prefer James…"

"Shut up, Potter!"

"I will if you agree to this thing."

"No."

"Just a tiny, small, very little agreement."

"No."

"Don't you even want to know what it is?"

"No."

"If you don't help me, I won't un-stop not talking to you!"

"No. Wait, what?"

"Ha!"

"Potter, un-stop isn't even a word!"

"Since when have we become so grammatically correct?"

"Since the day -" Oh God. Why were we even having a conversation about grammar? This is ridiculous; clearly talking to Potter can have more severe damaging consequences on one's mental health than I had thought. "Potter, is it even humanely possible for you to shut up for just one moment?"

He pondered for a bit. "If you agree to this thing."

"No."

Oh crap, we're back to square one again, aren't we?

"Lily, you can be so stubborn sometimes. It wouldn't kill you to say 'yes' once in while."

"What is that supposed to mean? And why have you called me Lily all day?"

"I don't know, it has a much nicer ring to it than Evans, I find."

"Gee, thanks. So now my last name sounds like crap, does it?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Lily. It's just…"

"Stop that Potter!"

"Stop what, Lily?"

"Stop - YOU ARE JUST DOING THIS TO GET ON MY NERVES!"

"No I'm not."

"…Lily," he added.

I threw my quill across the room. It went through the window.

"Nice shot, Lils."

I stood up and seized him by the collar.

"I'm warning you James, if you think -"

"There's the James again! If you can call me by my first name, I should do the same for you. Besides, we've known each other long enough. How about we just have a first name system where -"

"JAMES!" Oh sod. "I mean, POTTER!"

"I knew you'd think it was a good -"

I let go of his robes to grab the first thing on the table (the ink bottle) and threw it at his head. That went out the window too.

Note to self: Must learn to aim.

"Wow, that's three out of three, Lils! How about you come to the Quidditch tryouts in November? I'm sure we could use a chaser like you."

"Alright!" I sighed, throwing my arms in the air. He won. I admit it. Completely out of breath, I leaned against the wall, disgusted at myself.

"Alright Potter. What is it you want that will get you to shut up?"

He grinned at me, just as the clock struck ten.

Before I had the energy to notice anything, James had tangled his legs with mine and his mouth was eerily close to the side of my face.

"So," he whispered into my ear. "Seven sugar quills this year?"

Author's Note:

(Reposted with corrections to grammar and spelling) This chapter is long. I wrote this as a distraction from all my summatives and exam reviews so, yes, I did write it at a time of utter delirium. But hopefully, it still works. I hope. To clear a few things up, Lily is in a state of denial over the whole butterflies-in-her-stomach thing. It is October, I know there was a weird time shift there. And no, Lily is not actually going to try out for Quidditch.

On another note, I love all you reviewers out there. 10 reviews, I'm impressed! I decided that individually replying to your reviews took too much time and that it was unfair for the anonymous reviewers so I'll do it here in the A/N from now on. And remember to check my info page for updates on the story!

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Love, Cassie